More than $2 million in budget adjustments could help Eddy County’s Public Works Department in the long run, County officials said.
Over $1 million for road maintenance supplies and $700,000 for a bulldozer for the Sandpoint Landfill east of Carlsbad were not part of the original 2021-2022 budget passed earlier this year by the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners.
The new fiscal year started July 1 and the adjusted funds for the road supplies would repair Eddy County roads and crossings damaged in June and July by heavy rains and flooding, said Public Works Director Jason Burns.
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Eddy County Manager Allen Davis said using county money was a better alternative than asking the federal or state governments for help.
“I think we can take care of this within our means and without the state and federal oversight,” he said.
Nearly a month ago, commissioners approved purchase of new machinery for Eddy County’s Public Works Department with $2 million in reparation funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for floods that damaged more than 100 miles of Eddy County infrastructure nearly seven years ago.
Davis said the budget adjustment allowed Eddy County to perform the repairs in its own timeframe.
Sandpoint Landfill bulldozer lease running out
Aug. 17, Burns asked commissioners for the bulldozer budget adjustment as the lease for the landfill’s current bulldozer expires in December.
He said Eddy County would purchase landfill equipment instead of leasing it.
“It’s coming up due in December so we can procure it now and not see much lapse with the use of the equipment,” Burns said.
He said there are nine pieces of equipment at the Sandpoint Landfill and with some reorganization of equipment. Eddy County would save money.
“We are intending to lease the (trash) compactor. That is one that is in the trash 100 percent of the time. With some of our projects coming to completion out there it should be the only one in the trash the majority of the time,” Burns said.
Davis said the new bulldozer was not in the original request for the current fiscal year’s budget.
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Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
